Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic has been suspended two games for punching Columbus Blue Jackets’ Kole Sherwood during the two teams’ Saturday night game, the NHL’s department of player safety announced.
The incident occurred early in the second period of the Flames-Blue Jackets tilt on Saturday. With the Blue Jackets looking to even things up after Calgary earned a 1-0 lead, Sherwood put an attempt on Flames netminder David Rittich and then added a dig at the covered puck for good measure as he skated by.
Lucic rushed the rookie immediately and sucker-punched him, sending Sherwood to the ice. The veteran jumped on the 22-year-old winger to try to land a few more punches as Sherwood’s teammates pulled him off and a scrum ensued.
Lucic received a double-minor for roughing on the play, while Sherwood was handed a two-minute minor for slashing.
Brad Treliving, the Flames general manager, vehemently disagreed with the department of player safety’s decision.
The Flames winger will miss Calgary’s upcoming games on the road against the Capitals on Sunday and at home against the Coyotes on Tuesday before he’s eligible to draw back into the lineup.
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